#among plants and driftwood

[savageboar]

i finally fully introduced the gouramis to the tank and two already started roaming idly and trying to eat dead duckweed so that's good. displaying a bit of their personalities.

[mostly-mundane-atla]

Inupiaq Books

This post was inspired by learning about and daydreaming about visiting Birchbark Books, a Native-owned bookstore in Minneapolis, so there will be some links to buy the books they have on this list.

Starting Things Off with Two Inupiaq Poets

Joan Naviyuk Kane, whose available collections include:

Hyperboreal

Black Milk Carbon

The Cormorant Hunter's Wife

She also wrote Dark Traffic, but this site doesn't seem to carry any copies

Dg Nanouk Okpik, whose available collections include

Blood Snow

Corpse Whale

Fictionalized Accounts of Historical Events

A Line of Driftwood: the Ada Blackjack Story by Diane Glancy, also available at Birchwood Books, is a fictionalized account of Ada Blackjack's experience surviving the explorers she was working with on Wrangel Island, based on historical records and Blackjack's own diary.

Goodbye, My Island by Rie Muñoz is a historical fiction aimed at younger readers with little knowledge of the Inupiat about a little girl living on King Island. Reads a lot like an American Girl book in case anyone wants to relive that nostalgia

Blessing's Bead by Debby Dahl Edwardson is a Young Adult historical fiction novel about hardships faced by two generations of girls in the same family, 70 years apart. One reviewer pointed out that the second part of the book, set in the 1980s, is written in Village English, so that might be a new experience for some of you

Photography

Menadelook: and Inupiaq Teacher's Photographs of Alaska Village Life, 1907-1932 edited by Eileen Norbert is, exactly as the title suggests, a collection of documentary photographs depicting village life in early 20th century Alaska.

Nuvuk, the Northernmost: Altered Land, Altered Lives in Barrow, Alaska by David James Inulak Lume is another collection of documentary photographs published in 2013, with a focus on the wildlife and negative effects of climate change

Guidebooks (i only found one specifically Inupiaq)

Plants That We Eat/Nauriat Niģiñaqtuat: from the Traditional Wisdom of Iñupiat Elders of Northwest Alaska by Anore Jones is a guide to Alaskan vegetation that in Inupiat have subsisted on for generations upon generations with info on how to identify them and how they were traditionally used.

Anthropology

Kuuvangmiut Subsistence: Traditional Eskimo Life in the Latter Twentieth Century by Douglas B. Anderson et al details traditional lifestyles and subsistance customs of the Kobuk River Inupiat

Life at the Swift Water Place: Northwest Alaska at the Threshold of European Contact by Douglas D. Anderson and Wanni W. Anderson: a multidisciplinary study of a specific Kobuk River group, the Amilgaqtau Yaagmiut, at the very beginning of European and Asian trade.

Upside Down: Seasons Among the Nunamiut by Margaret B. Blackman is a collection of essays reflecting on almost 20 years of anthropological fieldwork focused on the Nunamiut of Anuktuvuk Pass: the traditional culture and the adaption to new technology.

Nonfiction

Firecracker Boys: H-Bombs, Inupiat Eskimos, and the Roots of the Environmental Movement by Dan O'Neill is about Project Chariot. In an attempt to find peaceful uses of wartime technology, Edward Teller planned to drop six nukes on the Inupiaq village of Point Hope, officially to build a harbor but it can't be ignored that the US government wanted to know the effects radiation had on humans and animals. The scope is wider than the Inupiat people involved and their resistance to the project, but as it is no small part of this lesser discussed moment of history, it only feels right to include this

Fifty Miles From Tomorrow: a Memoir of Alaska and the Real People by William L. Iģģiaģruk Hensley is an autobiography following the author's tradition upbringing, pursuit of an education, and his part in the Alaska Native Settlement Claims Act, where he and other Alaska Native activists had to teach themselves United States Law to best lobby the government for land and financial compensation as reparations for colonization.

Sadie Bower Neakok: An Iñupiaq Woman by Margaret B. Blackman is a biography of the titular Sadie Bower Neakok, a beloved public figure of Utqiagvik, former Barrow. Neakok grew up one of ten children of an Inupiaq woman named Asianggataq, and the first white settler to live in Utqiagvik/Barrow, Charles Bower. She used the out-of-state college education she received to aid her community as a teacher, a wellfare worker, and advocate who won the right for Native languages to be used in court when defendants couldn't speak English, and more.

Folktales and Oral Histories

Folktales of the Riverine and Costal Iñupiat/Unipchallu Uqaqtuallu Kuungmiuñļu Taģiuģmiuñļu edited by Wanni W. Anderson and Ruth Tatqaviñ Sampson, transcribed by Angeline Ipiiļik Newlin and translated by Michael Qakiq Atorak is a collection of eleven Inupiaq folktales in English and the original Inupiaq.

The Dall Sheep Dinner Guest: Iñupiaq Narratives of Northwest Alaska by Wanni W. Anderson is a collection of Kobuk River Inupiaq folktales and oral histories collected from Inupiat storytellers and accompanied by Anderson's own essays explaining cultural context. Unlike the other two collections of traditional stories mentioned on this list, this one is only written in English.

Ugiuvangmiut Quliapyuit/King Island Tales: Eskimo Historu and Legends from Bering Strait compiled and edited by Lawrence D. Kaplan, collected by Gertrude Analoak, Margaret Seeganna, and Mary Alexander, and translated and transcribed by Gertrude Analoak and Margaret Seeganna is another collection of folktales and oral history. Focusing on the Ugiuvangmiut, this one also contains introductions to provide cultural context and stories written in both english and the original Inupiaq.

The Winter Walk by Loretta Outwater Cox is an oral history about a pregnant widow journeying home with her two children having to survive the harsh winter the entire way. This is often recommended with a similar book detailing Athabascan survival called Two Old Women.

Dictionaries and Language Books

Iñupiat Eskimo Dictionary by Donald H. Webster and Wilfred Zibell, with illustrations by Thelma A. Webster, is an older Inupiaq to English dictionary. It predates the standardization of Inupiaq spelling, uses some outdated and even offensive language that was considered correct at the time of its publication, and the free pdf provided by UAF seems to be missing some pages. In spite of this it is still a useful resource. The words are organized by subject matter rather than alphabetically, each entry indicating if it's specific to any one dialect, and the illustrations are quite charming.

Let's Learn Eskimo by Donald H. Webster with illustrations by Thelma A. Webster makes a great companion to the Iñupiat Eskimo Dictionary, going over grammar and sentence structure rather than translations. The tables of pronouns are especially helpful in my opinion.

Ilisaqativut.org also has some helpful tools and materials and recommendations for learning the Inupiat language with links to buy physical books, download free pdfs, and look through searchable online versions

[asongofstarkandtargaryen]

JON SNOW DAY 15 : Jon & The Smith  (Faith of the Seven)

If you were told to associate Jon Snow with one of the seven deites of the Seven you would probably draw comparisons between him and the Warrior.

When Catelyn prays to the Seven, she sees Jon's face among those who resemble the Warrior.

"The Warrior stands before the foe...[...] He protects the little children"; as a popular song of the seven kingdoms informs us. And what are the Black brothers if not protectors of the realm?

I'm not denying the connection between the Warrior's image and Jon Snow. I just wanted to talk about his less explored connection to the Smith.

So, who is The Smith?

Meribald turned back to Podrick. "I have never known a boy who did not love the Warrior. I am old, though, and being old, I love the Smith. Without his labor, what would the Warrior defend? Every town has a smith, and every castle. They make the plows we need to plant our crops, the nails we use to build our ships, iron shoes to save the hooves of our faithful horses, the bright swords of our lords. No one could doubt the value of a smith, and so we name one of the Seven in his honor, but we might as easily have called him the Farmer or the Fisherman, the Carpenter or the Cobbler. What he works at makes no matter. What matters is, he works.

AFFC, BRIENNE V

According to Septon Meribald, the Smith is someone who works and his labor is used to help other people.

Jon is the only character on a position of power  (being Lord Commander) who has also working experience. Unlike the rest of lordings/kings & queens who simply inherit their title, he had to earn his own. When he first joined the Night's Watch, he had to work, like eveybody else who was a newcomer. Jon being the previous Lord Commander's steward means that he was used to serving - and giving his personal labor- before he started to rule and give orders.

Here are the tasks of the stewards, the order in which Jon belonged before he became Lord Commander:

Chett gave an angry scowl. "I'm a steward. You think it's easy work, fit for cowards? The order of stewards keeps the Watch alive. We hunt and farm, tend the horses, milk the cows, gather firewood, cook the meals. Who do you think makes your clothing? Who brings up supplies from the south? The stewards."

AGOT, JON V

Also, according to Brother Narbert, the Smith gave horses to men in order to help them to do their work:

The jest did not sit well with Brother Narbert. "You are a knight, ser. Driftwood is a beast of burden. The Smith gave men horses to help them in their labors."

Here the Smith is presented as the asoiaf universe Prometheus from greek mythology. Just like Prometheus gave fire to men to aid them, the Smith gave them horses.

Does Jon Snow has any Prometheus - Smith moment? Tha answer to this question is, more than one. At the beginning of the first book, he gave his little sister a sword so she could learn to protect herself. He asked an actual smith to make that sword and when he presented it to Arya, he also gave her the first fighting lesson: stick them with the pointy end. Both the sword and that first lesson are significant on Arya's journey and help her survive (along with the swordsmanship skills she received later on).

During the Night's Watch journey beyond the Wall, Jon found - thanks to his direwolf- dragonglass at The Fist of First Men.  Unlike other Black Brothers who are skeptical of dragonglass, Jon believes that those materials were buried due to their importance and decides to make weapons out of them and give them to his friends and Jeor Mormont. He becomes a sort of literal smith offering weapons to those who are dear to him in order to help them protect themselves.  Sometime later, Sam will use one of those daggers Jon made to kill an Other.  Jon Snow as Prometheus - Smith served his purpose to aid men with his gift.

[alex51324]

Eclipse Trip Report, Part 1

TL: DR, The eclipse was clouded out and therefore a bit underwhelming, but still neat, and the rest of the trip was fun, too!

I arrived at my campsite on Friday afternoon, amid snow flurries and sleet:

Luckily, I was staying in this snug little hut, a Pennsylvania state park "camping cottage." They're smaller and less quaint than the rustic cabins that I usually get, but because they're prefab, they have them at some of the parks that don't have full cabins, including the one where I was staying, 20 minutes outside the path of totality.

The hut has 3 of these little radiators, along with two sets of bunks:

Sophie always decides to sleep on that green blanket on the floor when we go camping, even though I make up a bunk for her. That ended up working out this time, because my dad decided at the last minute that he wanted to see the eclipse, too, so he came up Sunday night. I'm not sure who among the three of us would have had the hardest time getting up to a top berth.

Besides the bunks, you also get a table and chairs:

The cottages are located right on the park's little lake:

This was a less-than-a-minute walk from the cottage, and I could hear the frogs from my bunk!

The weather cleared up by about mid-day on Saturday, so we hopped in the car and drove to the path of totality to scout out viewing spots. Here's what we decided on, at Long Point On Lake Chautaqua State Park:

We walked out to the titular Long Point:

Which was very windy, but a nice view!

After that, we drove up to Lake Erie and had a look around, visiting two lighthouses, each with a little municipal park nearby. Here's the Dunkirk Lighthouse:

I got there a little too late to go on the tour inside, but I was mainly there to look at the lake, anyway. It's a very big lake. What's eerie about it, Lake Erie, is that it's sort of like the ocean--it has waves, and you can't see the other side--but it's like a normal lake in how it smells, and what the plant and animal life is like, and all that:

It's kind of disconcerting.

Also mildly disconcerting was how this little beach, a municipal park of some kind, was directly under the shadow of this factory:

There's also interesting driftwood, smoothed into odd shapes. This one looks like a dragon skull:

Then we drove up to the Barcelona lighthouse:

Which was also closed, in this case because it's falling down, and you can't even get a good look at the outside because it's all fenced off so it doesn't fall on top of somebody. (The vertical stripes on the tower are something they're apparently using to brace it up, and the whole other side is blocked off with orange construction fencing.)

It has a much cooler beach, though:

There were these crumbling slate cliffs, and little waterfalls coming down them!

Sophie enjoyed sniffing things, and drinking the lake:

When we got back to the hut, she was ready for a nice rest:

[everrainrp]

You’ve mentioned that jewelry, “clothes” and various accessories will be allowed in character creation, I’m curious what all that entails! Will there be information released on what types of materials the cats can make/use in clothing and accessories?

Hello!

Yes, these will be allowed in character creation!

As for what materials exactly will be used will vary between Clans and their environments, but I will add that in Clan information so thank you for bringing this up!

Mistshroud Clan uses tough fibers, grasses, saplings, lichens, stripped bark, and mosses found in their vegetation rich territory to make makeshift insulation and cloaks, as well as tightly woven fibers to create compression wraps, as their damp territory affects those with arthritis badly. They are less likely to use materials found in their territory to make accessories or jewelry that do not serve a purpose.

Thornrush Clan, same as above, uses their vegitation rich environment to harvest tough saplings and fibers, bark, and grasses for weaving purposes, however they do make woven accessories made out of stems or saplings! Thornrush Clan also practices engraving or carving into accessories as well as their environment in what they refer to as "Paws Cant", which will be brought up in another post! While they use materials found in their own environment for accessories, such as bark tokens and woven necklaces, they also do trade with other Clans a lot, such as Shoreshimmer for their sea glass to use in necklaces and charms! Thornrush will also practice making 'crowns', circular woven materials typically made from tough grasses and brambles.

Both Mistshroud and Thornrush will also utilize pelts and fur from prey or carcasses for den insulation and bedding.

Speaking of, Shoreshimmer Clan utilizes driftwood, smoothed stones, sea glass, reeds and beach grass to craft, as well as shells from bivalves like scallops and mussels, or from snails! Driftwood and reeds are more commonly used for architecture purposes such as reinforcement for dens, but it's not unheard of or unusual for these to be incorporated into accessories. Sea glass accessories actually play a very large role in their culture, each cat going through the Shorewalk Rite to find a piece of sea glass that is fashioned into a wearable accessory by Clan artisans for that cat to wear for their entire life, symbolic of their connection to the shores. They may also use fish hooks or netting that have washed ashore!

Skyreach Clan uses... whatever they can find! Gems and stones from the mountainous caverns in their territories, flowers, grass, bark, even human items that have been left behind by hikers like actual fabrics or lost jewelry! They pride themselves in discovery, so finding something new and wearing it is a point of pride for them! They may occasionally use feathers as accessories, but this is generally limited to wearing a necklace of them or having a few sticking out of their sides or back fur (re. the native appropriation rule in character creation and the usage of feathers).

Torrentfall Clan, much like Mistshroud, does not usually make anything that does not have a purpose. They are among the least likely Clan to decorate themselves with accessories, but it's not improbable! If they do, it'll usually involve smooth riverbed stones or reeds. Because of their territory and the challenges they face living among waterfalls and rapids, they tend to face a more practical approach to crafting, making nets or traps to catch fish. Smooth riverbed stones, reeds, and freshwater mussel and snail shells are the most commonly used materials in crafting accessories when they are made!

Both Shoreshimmer and Torrentfall may also utilize fishbones for crafting.

Any of the Clans might use beetle shells, sprigs of plants, butterfly or moth wings, and natural found items for crafting as well, as these can be found in any of the territories!

Mammal and avian skulls and bones are generally not used among any of the Clans as accessories or decor. On rare occasions, when cervidae (hoofed unguluates such as deer, elk, caribou and moose) shed their antlers, the shed antlers may be used in some fashion granted it's not too big for a cat to wear or takes up too much space. Thornrush often uses shed antlers to reinforce dens and create barriers.

Overall, each Clan has a lot of options that can be naturally found in each territory, as well as Clan specific materials that are used either due to cultural reasons or because it's extremely abundant in their environments!

Thank you for this question, it allowed me to pick my brain a bit on specifics! If you have any other questions don't be afraid to reach out!

[eclipsecrowned]

Blue, the Florida moon through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The light dances along the driftwood tabletop, an interesting centerpiece to the boardroom from a local artist. At its head sits Karin, and behind her, receipts.

The Vampire would be lucky if it were simply a record of their latest purchases. The Coven chat sits unfolded before them instead, neatly screencapped by the mortal. She doesn't even blink as she clicks through discussions of the latest gossip among their breed. It only comes to a stop when conversation turns to the Island to which she is loyal.

And there, a mockery of her name and function -- I'm sure Karenfield will take care of things. She's outlined the title with such care. Leaning forward, she plants the hand still wielding the remote against her free palm.

"Tell me which one of you did this, and there will be absolutely 0 consequences." // open. KARIN LINDHOLM.

[notsosecret-slgarden]

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[the-shattering]

Chapter 1: The Calm

Maelesea, Irozia

The village of Maelesea sat on the coast amongst nearly black rocky crags and pebbled shorelines. Its streets and colorful wooden buildings were enveloped in an almost persistent mist. The clouds formed off of the cold waters and drifted onto shore, stopped by the rolling hills that lined the coast. Some days the sun could chase off the mist and other days the fog was too thick for even the sun to break through. Regardless of the weather, the fishermen of the village would rise from their beds at first light and make their way down cobbled streets to the docks. They would get into their small single-masted boats and glide out of the bay, serenaded by the harsh barks of the seals that inhabited the harbor.

The currents off the coast weren’t as bad as they were among other places – the bay they sat in was considered the safest port along the coast. Of course that was a relative term as many wayward ships still met their end on the rocky shoals until the mage finally moved into town. He did what all the magically inclined tended to do: He built a large tower to work his magic in. The lighthouse sat on the spit that jutted out from the coastline – the enchanted light guaranteed to pierce through even the thickest fog. In return the villagers left him mostly alone, in fact he was as much of a hermit as Torvola was.

Torvola. Daughter of Flintshire and Hero of Irozia. She despised the title, it reminded her of all she was those decades ago when she fought by Queen Venera’s side in battle. She never regretted fighting for the queen, never regretted helping her retake her rightful place on the throne, and never regretted their love for each other. However, she never felt like she earned the title of “Hero of Irozia”.

Anyone who willingly sent men to their deaths couldn’t be called a hero in any regard, even if it was supposedly for the right reasons.

Like the fishermen: Torvola also awoke with the sun, the interior of the plain driftwood cabin she called home still almost too dark to see anything. She sat up in bed and stretched, letting out a pleased sigh as her back cracked. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and planted her feet on the floor, she paid little mind to the dull ache in her left knee that most certainly signaled a change in the weather was on the way. She had slept surprisingly well, one of the few nights she had slept peacefully in years, and she felt unusually well rested. Perhaps it was because she knew what day it was.

A feeling of anticipation, a giddiness, fluttered in her stomach. She paused for a moment and laughed quietly at herself for acting like a little girl with a crush.

The fire in the hearth had burned low, the embers still weakly glowed a dull red and radiated slight warmth. After she shrugged on her tunic and breeches, Torvola walked over to the hearth and breathed life back into the fire, coaxing the flames with dried twigs and then a few split logs. She didn’t build the fire up too much as she knew she was going out soon.

Saxus, her aging sheltie, lay at the foot of her bed atop a nest of furs and straw. He opened one eye and huffed, not moving from his spot. Torvola smiled at him, “Come on you lout,” she said softly, “You’re not pissing in my house.”

He slowly got up and Torvola noted with sorrow that his gait was getting more stiff, he was more and more reluctant to rise from his bed. She had found him by the docks when he was only a pup and raised him for almost 15 years. He was nearing his last seasons and it saddened her to see him like this.

She had already resolved to give him the best final months of his life and she made a mental note to stop by the apothecary in town to grab more herbs for his aching joints.

‘I take better care of him than I do myself,’ Torvola thought with a small chuckle.

She opened the door to let Saxus out into the misty morning and he seemed to perk up as soon as the cool, fresh air hit his face. He trotted out into the yard and began to sniff around to find the perfect spot to do his business. Torvola grabbed her sheathed sword from by her bed and stepped out with him. She always began her day going through the guards and cuts that were drilled into her from a young age. Despite her retirement, she never stopped – it never felt right to not start the day with her drills.

She stood on the rocky ground and unsheathed her blade and began to go through the motions, seamlessly switching between guards and cuts. The exercise brought her back to her youth, training along side her father and his troops in preparation for a life of trouble. Her father was the lord of Flintshire, a small mining town in the mountains of Irozia, one of the few locations on the continent where the iron was mined underground.

The work was hard and dangerous and not just from the cave-ins and pockets of sulfurous, choking gas. Deep beneath the earth, far from the cleansing light of the sun, were evils spoken of only in hushed whispers around warm hearths in the dark of night. Creatures made of half rotted flesh and rusted armor that were human-like only in form. They clambered up from old tunnels and attacked the miners with savage ferocity.

Torvola’s father and his father before him vowed to protect the people in the town they ruled. It was a vow Torvola took when she was old enough to hold a blade and shield. She would descend into the tunnels with her father and his loyal soldiers, pushing the creatures back into the depths they came from. In her minds eye she saw the creatures they called the elders: their skeletal faces, their vacant white eyes, and their mouths filled with rotted teeth. The guttural screams and moans haunted her dreams even almost four decades later. She screwed her eye shut against the sound that echoed in her ears and delivered a series of particularly savage cuts to the humid air. Her yells rent the air as well as her sword did.

She breathed heavily with exertion and opened her eye again to reveal nothing but the clearing fog. The sun had apparently won the battle against the mists this morning and the golden light revealed her surroundings. Her home was atop a cliff overlooking the ocean and a fair distance away from Maelesea. From her front yard she could see the lonely lighthouse on the spit and the lord’s keep that sat a short distance away, just above the village that sat below and out of view.

Torvola sheathed her sword and stepped back into the house to put it back in its spot. She paused as she was setting the sword down. It was almost imperceptible but she could have sworn she felt the ground quiver slightly. She stayed still for a few moments, trying to feel for the movement again but it was gone.

Saxus whined and stared at his master with an expression Torvola could only describe as “concerned”. She shrugged, “Maybe my knees are finally giving in with the old age,” she muttered.

-

Torvola stepped out of the house half an hour later; she was dressed and equipped for the day’s errands. She wore an old red tunic embroidered with golden thread and black breeches that had seen their fair share of patches. She donned a gray woolen cloak and with a basket in hand, she made her way down the path with Saxus loyally trotting by her right side.

As she walked into town, she greeted the villagers with a smile and nod which most of them returned. Her name garnered respect anywhere in Irozia and while she didn’t like the fame that came with it, she did appreciate being well liked. Her vision on her right side had gone with her eye, leaving her unable to see things on her periphery. Saxus provided a watchful set of eyes to her right and warned her of any dangers to her right flank.

There was no danger today except for the two boys who were playing tag in the streets, blissfully unaware of their surroundings as they shrieked with laughter. Torvola felt Saxus bump lightly into her leg and she turned just in time to avoid getting bowled over by a young boy who was looking behind him at his companion instead of ahead. She recognized him as the baker’s son … what was his name? Gorin? Qordin?

Oh yes. Kordin.

“Woah, watch it!” Torvola said as she dodged Kordin.

He stopped and looked sheepishly up at Torvola, “Sorry,” he said. His friend stopped beside him, also looking appropriately contrite.

“Be more careful,” Torvola told him, her voice stern, “You could get hurt or hurt someone else.”

He nodded quietly, scuffing his toe into the ground. Torvola turned to walk away but she stopped when she heard him call out again, “Wait!”

She turned to face the boy again with an eyebrow raised.

“You taught Jamen to talk with his hands, right?” Kordin asked, “Can you teach me?”

“I can,” Torvola started slowly, she looked curiously at Kordin. “Do you know Jamen?”

“I’ve seen him around,” Kordin said with a shrug, “I don’t know him really well but he seems lonely. I just want to be able to talk to him, that’s all.”

Torvola smiled softly down at Kordin. A feeling not unlike pride swelled in her chest, “I’m sure he’d appreciate that a lot.”

Kordin beamed up at Torvola, “So you’ll teach me?”

“I’ll talk with your mother and father about it,” she said, “We can figure out a time.”

“Thanks!” Korbin said. His companion poked him roughly in the shoulder.

“Tag!”

“Hey! That’s not fair!” Kordin yelled after his friend who had started running away. He gave chase and left Torvola alone in the street.

Torvola laughed to herself and went back to her errands. Her first stop was the apothecary, Petan they chatted while he grabbed the herbs for Saxus, “And how about your joints, m’lady?”

“A bit sore,” Torvola admitted, “But manageable.”

“Are you sure you don’t want some wintersbreath to rub on them?” he asked. She fought the urge to smile, the man was always looking for a sale.

“I don’t want the Hero of Irozia to suffer from aching joints.”

“I’ll be fine,” Torvola said with a laugh, “All my efforts are on Saxus at this point.”

She reached down and scratched him behind the ears and he sat on his haunches, tail thumping the wooden floor in joy.

Her next stop was the fishmonger, Helgi, she was set up by the pier under a large canvas canopy. Torvola knew exactly what she was going to get from the merchant – she knew her friend’s tastes after all. Helgi grinned as Torvola made her selection, “Northern Sea cod? Are you having lunch with your friend again?”

“It’s obvious isn’t it?” Torvola answered lightly.

The harsh bark of a seal caught their attention and they turned to see a light gray harbor seal had managed to jump onto the dock. It looked from Helgi to Torvola and back and barked again. Helgi put her hands on her hips, “Is this your Marí?”

Torvola shook her head, “Too light. I think this one’s Isagard.”

The seal bobbed its head up and down as if to confirm its identity to the two women. It stared up at Helgi with its beady dark eyes expectantly and she rolled her own eyes, “You befriending the seawalkers have certainly made running my business a whole lot harder Lady Torvola.”

“As if they haven’t lead our fishermen to the best fishing grounds off the coast time and time again.”

“And they’ve taken their share of the winnings,” Helgi threw a large cod towards Isagard who caught it in her mouth and swallowed it whole. With a bark of thanks, Isagard slid back into the sea.

“I’ve noticed it’s only really her who pays you a visit,” Torvola said.

Helgi looked suspiciously at Torvola, “What are you getting at?”

“I think she may like you,” Torvola said with a shrug as she paid Helgi for the cod she bought and a little extra for the fish Isagard had taken.

“Well she ought to know I already have a loving wife,” Helgi called after Torvola as she left and Torvola laughed.

“Come on Saxus, let’s go get lunch with our friend.”

Saxus barked as if in agreement and trotted by Torvola’s side as she turned up the path to the beach.

Torvola held the basket close to her chest as she descended the precarious trail to the beach. Saxus was ahead of her, tongue lolling as he practically ran down the cliff side. It was at moments like those, where his puppy energy seemed to return, that Torvola thought rather hopefully that maybe he had more than a few seasons left in him yet. Marí was already seated on the rocks by the crashing waves, folding her seal skin neatly and placing it beside her. She was a large woman, muscular and fat from years of living in the harsh northern seas. Torvola approached her and set down the basket. From within she grabbed a large tunic and handed it to Marí.

Marí scrunched her nose in displeasure as she put the clothes on. She had spent decades in her seal skin and she hated the feeling of linen on her skin. Still, she tolerated it, she knew how weird the villagers got when they saw her naked. It was a small sacrifice she’d make to spend time with Torvola. She sat down on the sun-warmed rocks and basked in the warmth of the afternoon.

Torvola took their meal out of the basket and placed it on the rocks in front of them, as she worked she asked Marí, “How are the others?”

“Fine,” Marí replied in sign. In the time they had spent together, Torvola and Marí had created their own sign language. Marí, being a creature of the seas, could not speak as she had foregone that ability long ago. They spent weeks and months spelling out letters to each other, creating gestures for words, and even coming up with some semblance of a grammatical structure to their language.

“Isagard paid Helgi another visit,” Torvola said with a chuckle, “She’s beginning to think Isagard’s taking a fancy to her.”

Marí shook her head, “Isagard just knows Helgi will give her whatever she wants if she gives her the puppy eyes long enough.”

The two sat in comfortable silence as Saxus ran into the waves, jumping in the water and barking excitedly.

“Sometimes I think he wants to become one of you,” Torvola said with a laugh.

“He’d be a welcome addition.”

“So aside from pestering Helgi for a free meal, what is your herd up to today?” Torvola asked.

Marí pursed her lips in thought, “Godan and Enar are with your fishermen. Sinda is further out to sea – something was bothering her this morning.”

“Bothering her?”

“She said something felt off, wrong. She wanted to investigate and ask the others if they sensed it too,” Marí signed.

Torvola frowned, a twinge of worry gnawed at her stomach – was this a sign of trouble to come?

“Others?” she asked.

“The sea is inhabited by more than just us and fish,” Marí replied with a smile, “Anyway – I’m sure it’s nothing. Sinda has been around the longest of all of us, if she was truly concerned she’d have forbade me from coming up here.”

“Are you sure?” Torvola asked.

“I’m sure. She may not approve of our relationship but she won’t keep me away from you unless it was necessary.”

But Marí’s reassurance did little to comfort Torvola, who felt a familiar anxiety twist in her gut. Was she keeping Marí away from her duty to Sinda? Was Marí giving up her place in her herd by her friendship with her? It felt all too familiar to Torvola.

“What’s wrong?” Marí asked.

“I don’t want to be the reason that you’ve lost the respect of your herd,” Torvola said, “I don’t want you to have to choose.”

Marí raised an eyebrow, “Why would you think I would need to choose? I want to be with you.”

Torvola swallowed thickly as she stared into Marí’s eyes – they reminded her of the warmth of a summer’s day by the sea. Her calm demeanor did little to quell the storm of anxiety in her gut. Marí’s expression became pained as she looked at Torvola.

“Don’t you want to be with me too?”

Saxus suddenly barreled in from the sea, barking loudly as he ran to his master. The ground gave a sharp jolt and knocked Torvola off balance, preventing her from answering that question. She went to her knees and looked wildly around for any threats while Marí grabbed her seal skin out of instinct and clutched it protectively to her chest. Another, prolonged bout of shaking started, much more violent than the jolt. There was a crash as the rocks on the cliff side nearby started coming loose, Torvola’s eyes widened in horror at the sight. The whole cliff looked to be about to fall onto the beach.

Onto them.

“Watch out!”

Torvola threw herself on top of Marí and held her close. A few stray rocks hit her back and she stifled a groan, not wanting to worry Marí. Beneath her she felt Marí trembling, whether out of fear or from the quake, she did not know. The sound was tremendous. Rocks crashed onto the beach, trees shook violently before snapping in half, an entire cliff side fell into the sea with a roar.

Slowly, gradually, the shaking subsided and Torvola raised her head to look around at the destruction around them. Most of the nearby cliff face had collapsed, sloughing off onto the beach but mercifully the slide had missed them if only barely. Torvola’s back ached from where the rocks had hit but she paid no mind to the pain as she focused on Marí. Saxus was right next to them, he whined and nudged both Torvola and Marí with his snout.

“Are you alright?” she asked Marí. She held her friend by the shoulders as she checked for any signs of injury.

“I’m unhurt,” Marí signed back.

Torvola’s shoulders sagged as she breathed out a sigh of relief. Marí’s attention turned to the sea and then back to Torvola. Her eyes grew wide with fear as a realization dawned on her, “We need to go. Get to higher ground.”

Her fingers were flying so fast in the sign that Torvola could barely understand. She looked at Marí in confusion, “Why?”

“When the earth moves under the sea, it causes a big wave,” Marí grabbed Torvola’s hand and practically dragged her to the cliff side. She began to climb up the scree that had been knocked loose, one hand clutching her seal skin and the other holding Torvola’s hand in a viselike grip.

Torvola saw how absolutely panicked her friend was and got ahead of Marí, “Come on, follow me.”

____

Prologue | Chapter 2

[sunspray-peak]

Ch. 66: Appreciation & Acknowledgement

TUESDAY - WINTER 23

“And you say you don’t hold a grudge, you punk,” Alex tittered, looking at the $230 worth of art supplies they had purchased for Leah’s 33rd birthday. He shook a pack of markers—the very same $70 pack Achilles had purchased for Emily the past Spring—underneath Achilles’ twitching nose. “Those are the same ones Leah threw a huge fit over, right? You just can’t help but be shady, can you.” 

“How dare you.” Achilles snatched the markers and waved Alex away from the gift bag between his hands. “Perhaps I’m genuinely celebrating her with some well-deserved, high quality art supplies.” He took a final count of the items—markers, oil pants, brushes, check, check, check; after consulting his mother, he had painstakingly selected everything himself over the weekend, as Alex, in his own words, “didn’t know a dang thing about art”—before reaching for a stack of gold tissue paper. 

“We’re all in her debt here, you know. Consider this: if she hadn’t thrown her little fit, I probably wouldn’t have gotten blackout drunk and we never would’ve had our super deep and personal chat on the boardwalk that ultimately catalyzed this beautiful love story of ours. Hell, Elliott may have never finished his novel, never found an agent. Perhaps would’ve still been living in his cabin with one broken chair believing I ignored his letter out of hatred and spite and what not…” 

“Do you even remember our super deep and personal chat on the boardwalk?” 

“Bits and pieces, bits and pieces…” Achilles glanced up from the gift bag he’d been merrily stuffing with paper. “I mean, no, absolutely not, I just said I was blackout drunk. You have the card?”

“Yessir.” 

 Though Alex and Leah had probably chatted one on one twice in their respective lives, she’d been kind enough to invite him to her birthday party as well. It was nothing extravagant, just a little get together at her cottage.

Achilles had only visited a handful of times—for whatever absurd reason, the two had always found themselves meeting up at Elliott’s sad sack of a shack (though Achilles knew he had been discussing renovations with Robin recently, and, in the meantime, had finally purchased a second chair) despite the fact that both his and Leah’s homes were, in every way, shape, and form, just plain better. 

The cottage was tucked into the edges of Cindersap Forest just south of Marnie and Shane’s ranch. Stuffed to the brim with various knick knacks and trinkets, it still managed to ooze cozy rather than stuffy. Leah had made sure to bring the outdoors into her home; the walls had been papered in leaf-pattered greens and blues, and a great many potted plants were scattered about the hardwood floors. She had painted vines along the edges of the massive cherry wood bookshelf, while small clay figurines and carvings sat along the fireplace mantel. 

Mismatched paintings had been hung along every wall—mostly abstracts that she had painted herself, but a few still lifes and landscapes she had attributed to friends. There was little cohesion among the art but hey, as she had said to Achilles the first time he had stopped by, she was an artist, not a designer.  

They were third to arrive—Elliott was already there, naturally, but to Achilles and Alex’s surprise, so was Haley. 

“Who invited you?” Alex couldn’t help but ask when she sauntered over to say hello, drinks in both her hands.  

“Leah did, obviously. And it was a real invite, too, not a pity plus-one,” she sniffed, stubbornly shoving a glass of red wine into Alex’s refusing hand. “Emily’s coming, too, she just has to finish her shift.” 

During Achilles’ previous visits, canvases and driftwood had usually littered the floor, but tonight, Leah must’ve pushed her work bench and easel into her bedroom and out of sight. Instead, she’d moved her coffee table on top of the blue rug in her living room and had set out a nice spread of various vegetarian dishes. 

“Very adult,” Alex said, marveling over little balls of burrata. He turned to Achilles and whispered, “How do I eat this?” 

*****

Emily, as well as three of Leah’s old friends from Zuzu City, arrived over the course of the next hour. Leah had prepared a few games—board games, card games, puzzles; it was no wonder she and Elliott managed to get along so well despite their rather disparate personalities— and had more or less manhandled her guests into playing them, though none had put up much of a fight. 

Alex, after a ruthless early elimination from the card game at hand, lounged in a forest green bean bag, one hand draped lazily over Achilles’ shoulder, and was chatting animatedly with Elliott. 

Remarkable really, Achilles couldn’t help but think to himself. Alex and Elliott had probably exchanged less than five words before Achilles had moved to the Valley, and now they were chumming it up easy—though, Achilles had to admit, Alex could usually chat with anyone with relative ease, and few things came easier to Elliott than words. 

Achilles had been joking earlier, but perhaps one really could attribute at least part of this camaraderie to Leah’s angry outburst over Emily’s $70 birthday gift so many seasons ago… He glanced over at Leah who was biting her nails deep in thought as she selected a card to throw in the center pile and a peculiar bubbling sensation overcame him. Her sulking had led him to one of his worst nights of the year, and now, here he was. Here they all were.

“Aaand you’re out!” One of Leah’s friends—Skyler, Achilles believed it was—jabbed their finger into his face. 

“Oh.” Achilles glanced at the overturned cards. It seemed he had indeed chosen poorly. “Damn.” 

Alex gave him a sympathetic pat on the back, but Achilles gently shook it off to stand and grab himself another glass of cider. But in heading to the kitchen, Haley seemed to appear out of nowhere and nearly yanked him off his feet as she pulled him rather painfully aside to an alcove behind the fridge. 

“I want to talk to you.” 

“Yes, I assumed, considering the way you ambushed me and dragged me over to this lonely little corner—”

She cut him off with an impatient click of her tongue. “I’ll get to the point. You’re not stringing him along, are you?” 

“Pardon?” 

Haley rolled her eyes before narrowing her gaze. She was a beautiful girl, that was undoubtable, but the stark blueness of her pupils never failed to bring a little shiver down his spine, and ice cubes only continued to flow through his veins as she tightened a chilling grip on his wrist and clarified her question. “You’re not stringing Alex along, are you?” 

“What?” 

“Fuck you, Achilles, I’m not going to say it again—”

“No. What? No—of course not—” Achilles pinched the bridge of his nose in a (failed) attempt to stave off any twitching. “You of all people should know I’ve basically been in love with him since the Summer—” 

“The Summer?” Haley cackled, and the sound made Achilles’ hair stand on end, but she had at least relinquished her grip, her hands now resting on her hips. “That’s generous, according to Emily you’ve been thirsting over him since your first week in the Valley.” 

First day, more like it. “I mean—sure. Fair enough. Exactly. So why are you asking me this?” 

“Can’t hurt to confirm, can it?” She batted her eyelashes and trailed her fingers along the butcher block countertops. “Thought things may have changed. It does happen, you know. Maybe he couldn’t live up to whatever lofty vision you’d spent the whole year building up in your head. Maybe you just finally realized how painfully generic looking a man he is.” She shrugged. “Could’ve been anything.” 

“No.” 

But she seemed unconvinced. “Hmm.” She turned to face him again, tapping her finger against her chin as she slowly tilted her head in a way not dissimilar to Alex. It was discomforting. “So to confirm: you like him?” 

Yoba, this was infuriating. Why did he have to justify himself to her? But Achilles was conscious of their proximity to the rest of the partygoers, and, despite their hoots and hollers, made sure to keep his voice low and calm even as his nose really began to take on a life of its own. “Yes, Haley, I like him. Satisfied?” 

“Do you like like him?”

“What is this nonsense, what are we, in seventh grade?”

“Nonsense, shmonsense, babe. Does he know you like him?” 

“Of course he knows—wait.” Oh no. The thought washed over him like another douse of ice water. His nose had even stopped twitching.“Does he not think I like him? Haley, did he ask you to ask me this?”

“I didn’t say that.” 

“Haley, I swear to Yoba—”

But before he could finish his side of the interrogation, she gave him a hard shove backwards straight into the edge of the countertops before sprinting (in platform heels, no less) back out to join the others in the living room. 

Fuming, Achilles picked himself back up and stalked out with neither an answer nor the cup of cider he had aimed to refill. In fact, the only thing he was leaving the kitchen with was a newfound pain now sharply radiating from the hollow of his back.

“Absolutely maddening, that woman…”

*****

“What’s up? You good?” 

“Hmm?” Achilles blinked himself back to the present to see Alex watching him from where he still sat sprawled across the bean bag. 

“Why’re you looking me like that? You ok?” 

“Oh. You’ve… just got something on your face.” He immediately regretted the words as he watched Alex wipe the corner of his mouth with a cloth napkin. Should he have said something a little flirtier? Or perhaps he should’ve wiped Alex’s face himself, instead. Well. Too late now. 

Was Achilles a bad… well, boyfriend isn’t the right word, but you know what you mean…

Was Alex having doubts? 

Achilles wanted answers, but this was neither the time nor the place for a private conversation. With some degree of difficulty, he set aside the nagging feeling in his stomach and moved to pat Alex on the head.

“Uh. What are you doing?” 

“I— I don’t know.” Great job! Who the fuck pats someone on the head? He happened to notice Haley’s wrinkled nose and judgmental grimace from across the coffee table and, with difficulty, swallowed some choice words.

“You want to switch seats?” 

“Yeah, might be easier for you, you’ll be closer…” 

During his and Haley’s absence, the group had started another round of the game. Achilles had declined to be dealt in, and was now easing himself into the bean bag while Alex slid down to the rug below. 

“How are you doing, my dear friend?” Elliott asked, leaning over from his wooden stool. It seemed his chess skills did not translate to cards, he’d been the first to be eliminated once again. 

 How had Alex draped his arm around him so effortlessly earlier? Did he just have longer arms? It had to be the longer arms, because there was no way Achilles could do the same comfortably… although, maybe if he sat lower… Yoba, why was this all suddenly so hard? 

Don’t overthink it. You don’t have all the facts, yet. Don’t let her get to you!

He settled for leaning his leg against Alex’s side. 

“I’m—I’m all right. And yourself?” 

“Very good, very good! Alexander was just telling me that you have started writing again.” 

No surprises there. It was exactly the distracting conversation Achilles had anticipated, though he was cautious in his curiosity to hear Elliott’s thoughts.

Back in the day, he’d found that a small, but rather vocal minority of authors were determined to gatekeep the literary world, believing children’s novelists to be middling, second-rate writers who simply lacked the skill to write for older audiences. 

In the beginning, he had found the discourse easy enough to ignore—it was so much more fun to write for younger readers, why wouldn’t he write for them? It came more naturally, there was something about writing from their point of view that appealed to him. Perhaps, looking back now, he had been drawn to it due to his own unique childhood. Had wanted to capture the same sparkle and glow for other children. Yes, he had easily concluded that it wasn’t a lack of skill, but a different kind of skill; those authors were wrong. 

 But they had gotten to him in the end, wearing him down more and more each year with their whispers—their pretentious ideas had ultimately become, of course, one of the key factors that had fueled his determination to produce something more “elevated,” something with “merit” and “cultural impact.”

That had been the true beginning of the end, hadn’t it? When he had begun to listen to only those voices and tie his image and his pride to the target age of his work—because in the grand scheme of things, the battle in his mind between adult and children’s literature should never have been nearly as distressing, as high stakes, as it had been. It was all so silly, really. 

But adult literature had become more than just a mere format, at that point. It had grown to symbolize, for him, something greater—his skill, the respect he deserved (or didn’t deserve), his purpose. His degree of importance, his degree of impact. 

And after the lukewarm reception that adult “something” of his had received, Achilles had had to wonder—perhaps those authors had been right about him after all. Perhaps he really was an unskilled hack riding on his father’s coattails. Perhaps this really wasn’t for him. 

He felt differently now, of course. Or, at least, a little differently—it was still very much a work in progress, but he was slowly learning to let go of his disruptive need to gain the respect of those he himself respected little. 

But would Elliott still respect him? Would he still want his feedback? His advice? Would he look down on him now? Of course, Elliott was familiar with his work, he knew he had begun as a children’s author, but would he find Achilles’ decision to return to that part of the writing world… distasteful? Surely not… Definitely not, not Elliott, who had always been so supportive… 

Achilles gave his head a little nod as he craned his neck to the side to better face his friend. “Yes. Yes I have, I suppose your advice the other day must’ve worked—” 

“Oh ho! Yes, my advice,” Elliott chortled with a splashy wink. “Well, I for one am utterly delighted to hear the news. If I may, Alex didn’t say… would you be willing to perhaps share what it is this marvelous new project of yours entails? A sequel to Apparition, perhaps—?” 

“No—no. Definitely not. It’s… well. I’m going back to the old stuff, I think. Not Henry Spector, but something similar… a little horror, a little urban fantasy. A bit older than Henry, though, I’m thinking around middle-grade…” He paused. “No great works of literature for me, I suppose. My dreams of a Pulitzer dashed…” A dry laugh, his fingers curled into the folds of the bean bag, nails digging into the velvet. “You’ll have to win one for both of us, now, I suppose.” 

The sarcasm seemed to fly over Elliott’s head, though, for he nodded earnestly in response before clasping Achilles’ shoulder. “Perhaps no Pulitzer, but a Newberry, surely, my dear fellow! As for great works of literature… why, you sell your audience too short, my friend—is Evelyn of Blue Bowers not a classic? The Marvelous Magician of Ma?”

With a clap of his hands, Elliott gave what seemed to be almost a squeal of a cheer. 

“Oh, but how excited I am to hear of these developments—truly, truly! The announcement of your return to children’s literature shall echo throughout the literary world, I am sure of it. What an incredible—what an admirable—choice, my friend. I would dare to argue those wonderful works that constitute children’s literature may be the most vital, the most influential, stories of our entire craft— for a child who falls in love with a good book will likely be a reader for life, will they not? Their first peregrination into that most expansive world of imagination! I say, it would not be an exaggeration to declare that much of the success of our industry rests upon the tiny shoulders of children—and on the shoulders of those special authors, such as yourself, who choose to support them. 

“The stakes are high, the consequences crucial—but I can think of no one more worthy to undertake this behemoth of a task than yourself, Achilles Robinson! Or shall we say Achilles Desrosiers, assuming you plan to continue the use of your lovely pen name!” 

Achilles had long turned red at Elliott’s grandiose, and perhaps overly-obsequious, speech. “Now let’s not get carried away…” He had to look away from Elliott’s wide smile. “But thank you, that means a lot.” 

There it was again, that peculiar bubbling sensation in his stomach. But it was only nearly half an hour later, when Alex had preemptively fetched him a mug of earl grey tea, that he realized what that sensation was.

Gratitude. 

He turned back to the writer, though their conversation had long transitioned to a different topic. “You’re a good friend, Elliott.”

“Oh ho! As are you, Achilles! As are you. Now, as you were saying about those prairie dogs…” 

*****

Perhaps it was because nearly everyone at Leah’s party was over the age of 30, but they had all mutually decided to call it a night far earlier than any previous birthday soirees Achilles had witnessed this past year. So at 8:30pm, Alex and Achilles headed back to the farmhouse for their usual chamomile tea and “sleepy time scones,” as Alex was apt to call them now. 

“Though my grandma always told me it isn’t good for your digestion to eat right before bed.” 

“She’s probably right. Maybe we ought to ask Harvey.” 

Afterwards, Achilles had suggested they retire to the living room, but Alex was apparently determined to stay in the kitchen; Leah had given everyone a tiny jar of sourdough starter as a party favor, and he was now quite set on baking his own bread. 

“It’s 9:00, Al. Can’t we do it tomorrow?” 

“No, see—it’ll need to proof; this is perfect, if I do it overnight, I can bake it tomorrow morning.” 

“Can I help at all—?” 

“Nope. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. Go! Go write or read or— actually, you should stretch. How about you go do that for me, hmm?” With a cheery smile, Alex kissed Achilles’ cheek before violently pushing him away. 

“Right…” Achilles just managed to avoid slamming into the pantry door as he stumbled out of the kitchen. “I’ll leave you to it then.” 

In truth, he didn’t want to leave Alex to it at all. He’d wanted to talk to him the moment Haley had dropped her little bomb and danced away from him earlier, but Leah’s party had obviously not been the time to have the conversation, and tea time hadn’t felt quite right either. He’d hoped to chat after, but Alex seemed awfully excited about this bread business of his, and he wasn’t going to ruin that for him. 

So Achilles bided his time for just a little longer. He’d do it tonight, before bed. 

Evelyn said you weren’t supposed to eat right before bed. Achilles had read you shouldn’t argue with your significant other (not that he’s your significant other. Yet.) right before bed either. 

But this didn’t have to be an argument—in fact, there was no reason for this to be one. It was just a discussion—some clarification, really. There was nothing to even disagree about. 

Then why are you so damn nervous? 

*****

“Hey, you—the incredibly hot young man over there by the fridge who just finished making their bread dough, yes you. Get over here.” 

Alex glanced up from the cheese drawer, his head tilted in mild confusion. But upon meeting Achilles’ expectant gaze, he abandoned his search for sustenance to skip over to the living room. 

“I was just seeing if you had any… what was it called? Brata? Burtha?” 

“The cheese? Burrata?” 

“Yeah, that. That was good.”

“I don’t, unfortunately, but we can buy some tomorrow.” Achilles disguised the tiny tremble in his hand by patting the couch. Best get this over with as soon as possible. Clear communication! Perhaps it’d been good that Alex had been so intent to make his dough at night, it’d given Achilles time to work out his words. Keep it casual. “Oi, you know I like you, right?” 

Alex took the seat. “Huh? I mean… yeah. Of course.” 

Take that, Haley! 

“Fantastic. I just want to make sure I’m being clear about it all. I like you a lot and—” 

But the words seemed to be provoking the opposite of their intended effect, for Alex’s face instantly fell. “Oh heck. Shoot. Shit. Haley said something didn’t she—” 

Throw her under the bus, do it. 

But his morals won out. Somewhat. “Now I didn’t say that—”

Alex groaned, turning away to fall backwards into the throw pillows. “I told her not to—”

Achilles clambered over to where Alex lay, taking a seat on his outstretched legs. “Al, if you’re feeling this way—if there’s ever something that’s bothering you—I want you to feel comfortable telling me directly so we can talk about it, can I—” 

But Alex only groaned again, this time into one of the aforementioned throw pillows he was now holding over his own face. “I know, and I—well, I meant to, but it—but I thought about it, and it isn’t anything serious, I was just weirdly anxious about it, it was a real spur of the moment convo I was having with her, you know, it’s—it’s not a big deal.” 

Achilles wrenched the pillow off his face (“Don’t smother yourself, please.”) and gave his knees a friendly little pat (what is with you and patting today?) before cramming his way between the back of the couch and a still-supine Alex, joining the latter in lying down across the loveseat. “Well regardless of how big a deal it is and who said what, the cat’s out of the bag and I feel like I owe it to you to—”

But before he could get even one more sentence into his prepared remarks, Alex uncharacteristically rushed ahead. “I just told Haley that I, I don’t know, I feel like… I sometimes feel like. You sometimes still… see me as… I don’t know. A friend. Just a friend. Just sometimes. A friend you, like, sometimes make out with when nobody else is around. I don’t know. I’m stupid. 

“Really, I don’t mean to be, like, blamey, it’s not a big deal, and honestly it totally makes sense, we started off just being friends, I don’t expect there to have been a big shift or anything, especially since it hasn’t been that long and, you know, we’re not, like, having sex. Which I know is obviously my fault—”

“Don’t use that word, it’s not a ‘fault’ and—”

“—and in a way, isn’t a boyfriend just basically like a friend whose a boy that you, like, also have sex with—”

“Well, no, I wouldn’t say—”

“Not that I’m your boyfriend!” Alex rushed to add. “But I… I do really like you, Achilles. And I know it’s early, like super dee duper early, but I’m really… well I’m serious about this. About you, and… us.” He pulled himself up so that he was now leaning against the armrest of the sofa. “And I totally understand if you’re not there yet, which is why I’m saying what I said to Haley isn’t a big deal, I’m probably overthinking it. I mean, this whole experience has been sudden for me, I can’t even imagine how sudden it must’ve been for you, like I didn’t even use the word date until you showed up at the Stardrop because I’m an idiot—”

“Alexander—” 

“—but yeah, I guess every once in awhile maybe I just… well I get a little anxious that maybe you’re not actually into this in, like… I don’t know. A… romantic way. If that makes sense. Not that I know what romance is anyway… 

“Now to be clear, I don’t think for a second that you’d ever… I don’t know, lead me on or anything, like I don’t think you’re lying to me or, like, just playing around with me or something. But I just… well like I said. I’m… I’m serious about this. 

“I… I really do love you, Ash. Like I said, you’re my best friend. And I really am in love with you. But really, I mean it when I say I don’t expect you to feel the same right now, not at all, like I said, I know it hasn’t been that long and I’m probably just moving too fast because let’s be real, I don’t know what I’m doing. But I guess I do hope that, you know… you can get there, to that place, too. That you… want to get there, too. In time. Because, well… you’re really important to me.”

Achilles hadn’t moved—hadn’t found a good moment to, really, he was still squeezed tight next to Alex, lying on the couch; but despite his proximity (or maybe because of it), Alex was choosing to look down at the throw pillow in his hands, nervously smoothing out the wrinkles in the fabric. 

“Oh.”

Alex remained silent.

“I see.” 

Achilles needed a minute to further gather his thoughts—but only a minute, for there was a plead in Alex’s eyes that deserved a prompt response. He slowly clambered up from the couch and returned to his previous position, straddling his knees on either side of Alex’s legs, and lay his hands atop the throw pillow between them. 

“Hi.” 

Alex returned his smile, though it didn’t quite reach the small wince in his eyes. “Hi.” 

“Thank you for sharing that, Al.”

“You’re welcome, Mr. Robinson. Now, are we in a classroom or Alcoholics Anonymous?” 

Achilles laughed. He leaned forward and slipped his hand into Alex’s palm. “I’m sorry. For making you feel like I wasn’t serious about this, because I am.”  

“You don’t have to say that to make me feel better, Ash, I understand. We all move at different rates, right, and I had a bit of a head start—”

“Alexander—baby, I wanted to ask you out on a date the first day I met you.” 

“What?”

Instinctively, Alex seemed to pull back in surprise; Achilles could feel the tug in his hands, but he refused to let go.

“And I’ve been in love with you ever since you ruthlessly bullied me into rowing out into the middle of the Gem Sea with you to see jellyfish. Feeling this way hasn’t been sudden for me at all.” 

Alex still looked to be somewhat in disbelief—his green eyes were wide, his mouth still slightly agape, but the tension in his hands and his brow seemed to have softened, so Achilles continued.  

“Alex, I like you so, so much, I can scarcely describe it. Everything about you, your essence, your very being, has spent the past year etching my soul and my heart, and even when you’re not here, I still feel like I carry you with me. Even if this… doesn’t work out, Al, for whatever reason, I believe I’m forever marked by you.”

He felt Alex curl his fingers into his own, felt the sudden rush in heat burning through his body.  

“You’ve made me better. You’ve made me want to be better. Being with you, it’s like… it’’s like standing on dry land. Steady. Secure. I know that’s not a very sexy metaphor, if I had more time, I’d like to think I’d come up with something a little more original—” Alex laughed. “—but you make me feel safe.

“I like you and I love you and I’m in love with you and I should’ve said it earlier. I should’ve been clearer, and I’m sorry. I guess I’ve just spent so long feeling this way that I’d forgotten that what was obvious to me wouldn’t necessarily be so obvious to you.” Achilles concluded himself with a little shrug and half a smirk. “Just me being selfish, I suppose.”

It was Alex’s turn to take a minute. Achilles used the time to lay back down on the couch. He rested his head in the nook above Alex’s shoulder and lay his hand across his chest. It was nearly a minute before Alex finally spoke.

“Since the Summer? Really?” 

“Yeah. Something about having you witness about fifteen panic attacks in a season just really did it for me, I suppose,” Achilles said drily. “Also you wearing that white lifeguard uniform of yours. I suppose that did it for me, too.” 

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you ask me out?” 

“Mmm bit of a medley of reasons—I didn’t think I was in the right headspace for dating, I don’t do casual and I wasn’t sure how long I’d stay in the Valley for, I worried maybe you’d be disgusted I asked, I thought that you were straight… a myriad of excuses. Tell me, would you have said yes, had I asked you out over the Summer?” 

Alex wasn’t one to lie. A tentative little “Ah…” left his lips, and Achilles gave his shoulder a light smack. 

“Mmhm. That’s what I thought. You should know my ego can’t take that kind of rejection.” 

It was a joke (somewhat), but Alex nevertheless expressed his contrition with a kiss on the forehead. He wrapped his arm around Achilles, rested his hand on the nape of his neck. 

“To be honest, though…” Achilles continued in a bit of a drawl, sliding his pointer finger down the bridge of Alex’s oh-so-perfect nose. “There was also the matter of George.” 

“Oh.” 

After the chat on Evelyn’s birthday, Alex had told Achilles that it seemed like things had been going, if not great, better. George hadn’t returned entirely to his old self—though neither Alex nor Achilles had expected that anyway—for there was still a strained stiffness to their interactions. But Alex had shared that his grandpa had, at the very least, become more cordial. A promising sign, he hoped. 

“Are you saying my grandpa cockblocked me?” 

“Can you really call it cockblocking if you were going to say no to me anyway?” 

“True that…” 

“If I’m honest, though, I actually did consider asking you out, though it was earlier this season instead of Summer.”

“But?”

“But what held me back was the chance you’d want to say yes. Call it the ol’ narcissist in me.” 

“Hmm.”

Achilles could feel the soft pat of Alex’s fingers tapping against his chest. 

“You were nervous that if I said yes, that you’d out me prematurely to my grandpa.” 

“Yes.” 

“So you waited for me to make the first move instead.” 

“Yes.” 

“Hmm.” Alex brought Achilles’ hand to rest lightly against his lips. “Well here we are.” 

“Here we are.”

“So just to make sure. You like me?” 

“Yes, I like you.” 

“Huh.” Alex gave a very Haley-like titter as he turned to look back up at the ceiling. “A thing like that.” 

*****

Eventually, they moved from the living room to Achilles’ bedroom (“so we don’t have to cram ourselves like sardines on my couch”) and readied themselves for the night. But even after the showers were taken, the teeth brushed, and the clothes changed, it was scarcely 10, and Achilles couldn’t help but continue their conversation. 

“Tell me how you like to be loved, Al.” 

“What do you mean?”

“So I can be better. I don’t want you to feel like this is just a friendship, I want to know what I should be doing to make it clear that I care—” 

“I told you, Ash, I was overthinking it… and I already feel better after that conversation, really.” 

“Well tell me anyways. So it’s clear for both of us moving forward.”

“Well…” Alex turned to his side, resting his chin atop Achilles’s shoulder.  “I don’t know, I guess I like it when you… touch me. Like, kiss me and stuff. Outside of when we’re, you know… in bed.” Achilles had turned off the light, but he could feel the heat of Alex’s embarrassed blush creep into his neck. “Not like a lot of PDA or anything, I know you’re not into that, but even just small things when we’re out and about… I just like feeling… you. I guess.” 

He paused, then quickly added, “Which I know is all crazy and doesn’t make sense with the whole no sex thing—”

“Yes it does, Al, touching doesn’t have to just be sexual, it can be romantic, too, we’ve talked about th—”

“—and I know you’re not really a touchy person in public so I get it—”

“We’re not talking about me. Just tell me what you like, Al.” 

“I liked it when you told me you loved me… though who wouldn’t like that?” Alex laughed, and Achilles could feel the reverberations course through his stomach. “I like it when you call me baby, is that weird? As, like, a dude? Whatever, I don’t care, I like it. And I like when you explain things to me without making me feel stupid. And I liked when you bought an apron and that really fancy razor for your bathroom for me and those funky salmon skin snacks because I said I liked them.” 

Alex curled further into him, settling himself underneath Achilles’ arm before resting his head atop his chest “But how about you? How do you like to be loved, huh?” 

“Mmm.” Achilles trailed his fingers through Alex’s hair, wrapping his pointer around a loose curl before gently tracing it down Alex’s forehead and nose until it rested lightly against his bottom lip. “I just like spending time with you, Al.” 

“Well there’s gotta be more than that, man.” 

“I like that you buy me flowers and say nice things about me, how about that?” A dry chuckle, then he continued softly, “You’re very generous with your love, Alex.” Achilles kissed him lightly on the forehead. “Maybe it’s you, maybe it’s my gargantuan ego, but I’ve never had any doubts. Guess I got the lucky end of the stick.”  

“I dunno about that,” Alex whispered, just barely stifling a yawn. His eyelids were beginning to droop, and his voice was soft with sleep and maybe something more. “I think I’m pretty lucky, too, ya know. To have finally fallen in love like this, and to have it be with someone who loves me back.” 

[nightshadereaper66]

Here's a description I wrote a couple of months ago. My prompt was "inner peace."

Windows line one side of the small room. The ceiling is sloped there, connecting the floor to the top of the opposite wall. The sun’s rays dance across the hardwood floor; dappled by the tree branches outside and swaying with the wind. The sunlight strays farther, creating twinkling beams that dance through the water of the fish tanks. Light spills out from lamps that sit above each one, delineating the bounds of the glass. The room resonates with the low hum of the hidden filters and bubblers, their echoes muffled by the fluffy floor rug. Pothos plants cascade over the tanks’ lip, falling down the wooden stands as fish drift among their submerged roots. Each tank is unique, grounded by pieces of driftwood and dragon stone and livened by vibrant plants. The motion of the fish attracts my eye. Some weave in and out of the greenery in schools while others rove across the bottom. A few swim alone, regally flicking their fins to float in place. 

Two walls are lined with shelves filled with books. There are paperbacks and hardbacks, comic books, novels, and everything in between. Planters hang from the walls and ceiling, a monstera plant climbs up one wall, and a fig tree stands in the corner. One of the short sides of the room has a built-in desk and shelf. Boxes of tea sit on one side, next to the electric kettle and two mugs. The shelf is filled with snacks, both sweet and savory, ready for late-night raids and movie marathons. A laptop is charging on the desk’s surface. Its screensaver is active, multicolored ribbons drifting across a dark background. A phone sits next to it. It’s in silent mode; no one can reach me. I’m shielded from obligations and requests as I rest on the large beanbag chair that sits in the corner. It’s next to the slanted roof; sunlight warms my stomach. Thoughts wander my mind as I drift away from reality.

Thanks for the support on my previous post! You are inspiring me to share my writing more!

[hazzysnax]

Miscellaneous ideas (Pet site)

This is a long read, buckle up!

When you help Gramble enough, you'll be able to get specific types of knitted clothes from him based on Bugsnax!

Yes, you could clothe your Grumpuses. Hats, shirts, pants, accessories, you name it.

Bugsnax are catchable and require a Bug Net. To raise the catch rate, you would need to use corresponding tools for specific Bugsnax (ex. Trip Shot for Scoopy Banoopy), and/or use sauce plant pods corresponding for specific Bugsnax (ex. Kweebles like chocolate).

Bugsnax gathering areas are based on the actual game, obviously, including the DLC area.

Among that, you can generally gather items, such as driftwood from the beach areas (Simmering Springs and Boiling Bay), leaves from the forest areas (Flavour Falls and Garden Grove), and sandstone from the desert areas (Scorched Gorge and Sizzlin' Sands).

Gathered items are generally used to make huts for the residents, but you can also find rare stuff, such as orphaned Grumpus eggs!

Tools have durability, so at some point you need to get back to Snorpy to fix them.

A wanderer-NPC, the Snaxsquatch. They could sell various items in enhance for Bugsnax. They randomly appear in the town, and you'll quickly notice when, as Grumpuses of the town are scared/hiding.

Snaxquatch leaves on their own in around 10-15 minutes of checking, or you can manually shoo them.

Grumpuses that are Brave can startle off the Snaxquatch. Sometimes this makes them drop an item on the ground - this is around a 5% chance. The item pool is quite large, ranging from x10 driftwood to something more rare. The chance to get something rare is lower than common items. This is done that people wouldn't purposefully have all of their townsfolk be Brave.

Speaking of bravery, that's one of the Personalities that Grumpuses can have. Among Brave, they can be Grumpy, Wimpy, Social or Lazy. Personalities affect some things: They have special interactions (ex. Lazy Grumpuses need to eat more than usual), are leaning towards extroverted/introverted/ambiverted (ex. Social Grumpuses like to chitter-chatter!... while Wimpy Grumpuses stay hidden) , and they have preferred jobs (ex. Wimpy Grumpuses like to sell their crafts and artwork).

[ribstongrowback]

As the second most common Strain, timberfolk are usually recognized by randos as being timberfolk, and regarded with suspicion and even fear. Indeed, these strange half-insect, half-tree humanoids are the only ones who can live within the hungering undergrowth of the Greenery, and stranger still, they tend to stick to it. Their cold blood and wooden exoskeleton seems to allow them to live among the plants as if they were a part of the forest itself, reproducing by laying clutches of eggs that they then hide within tree-trunks so that the larvae can then slowly build its exoskeleton from the bark. As they age, they need to periodically consume plant matter and bark so that their exoskeleton can grow with them. They have an omnivorous diet but mostly live from gathering berries from the Greenery, but when food runs out, they aren’t shy about forming hunting parties to raid the settlements near their forests. 

“For the Root!” they screech, as they snatch anyone they can lay their hands on. They are usually led by a strange druid with a staff of gnarled wood and a sharp obsidian sickle, whose task is to read the needs of the forest in the song of the wind and the colour of the leaves, offering the blood of captives to the plants that need most care, leading strange ceremonies among circles of intricately carved stone. Some say they can find truth in the guts of any living creature, others that they command to the vines with strange incantations, but few are those who see one and live to tell the tale.

Those who do are usually timberfolk themselves, and those who know about this have usually heard it from timberfolk themselves. It’s not that uncommon for young Timberfolk to have dreams beyond the treeline, and some of them set out to explore the world as raiders, feasting only on those who attack them first, and only committing acts of ritual sacrifice, like, one time, and even then the misunderstanding is cleared quite quickly. Not everyone agrees. Some say you can take the timberfolk out of the green, but not the green out of the timberfolk. Timberfolk themselves tend to dismiss this as irrelevant, as they usually don’t want to leave, and those who do are lost to them, so why bother? Driftwood, they call them, and if they don’t want to find a home in the Greenery, they’re more than welcome to try the wastes. 

And so the driftwoods roam the wastes alone. Some of them settle far away from the root’s call, in any place that’ll take them, returning to the forest only to get the bark they need to grow and occasionally lay eggs in a proper tree if they’ve been fertilised. 

Let’s be real though, most of them find their homes among raiders. You don’t leave the Greenery without at least a little of an adventuring soul, and the treasures of the wastes hold secrets that no root druid will tell you.

[croems]

I’m Sorry, I Promised I’d Stop Sending Letters

I still sit at your table

For every homemade dinner

For every late-night dish after your last cigarette

Over sangria stains strained through cellulose

Still dreaming of my life with you

 

I went to your garden last week

Lit a strangers Spirit among the arrow fluted foliage

Admired the roses the way you once had

Over the love stored in the names given by women long gone

By their petals, husbands and lovers once sang their praises

 

These days, I clothe the table

Each ridge of the carpenter’s chisel hidden

To allow me to forget how they chipped you away

Until all I had left was the ashes of your husk

Now tucked on a mantle of a foreign home

 

When I visit, I avoid you

The same way I avoid myself

Hiding behind my hedges and smoke

After losing you all I can be is lost

My isthmus flooded with tears of all who can see you in my face

 

Island living isn’t always so bad, you know

Stowaways, washups, and sailors have always been welcomed at my shores

And yet with each passing vessel

I am reminded that I am not a paradise, nor eden

But a desert of dreams best forgotten

 

I planted fruit trees and red flowers

Admired by my migrants for a season, then shunned as I rotted

There is potential for beauty here, but I can no longer sustain this silted earth

I need gardeners, I need nutrients, I need more than I can provide

I need you more than anyone or anything

 

Take my driftwoods and sandy soils

Make new tables, vases, and roses

Bless my waters, assure the boys of calm weather

Take my tears into your blouse,

Say “I love you, baby” one more time…

[amazinganimalsfacts]

Did you know yellow belly turtles can live up to 40 years in captivity? This shows how important it is to know how to care for them. These turtles come from the southeastern United States and love environments that feel like home. To keep them happy, you need the right habitat, food, and health care. Key Takeaways The minimum tank size for adult yellow belly turtles is 55 gallons. A proper basking area is crucial for drying and UVB absorption, with temperatures ranging from 80-90°F. Maintaining water temperature between 75-80°F is necessary for their health. Regular water changes and strong filtration are key because of their high protein diet. Knowing how to breed and incubate them can help with successful reproduction. Understanding the Yellow Belly Turtle Species The yellow belly turtle, known as Trachemys scripta scripta, lives in freshwater places like lakes and rivers in the southeastern United States. It's known for its bright yellow belly. These turtles can grow 5 to 12 inches long, with males being smaller. They can live more than 40 years in the right care. These turtles are most active during the day. They eat both plants and animals. Female turtles can lay 6 to 10 eggs at a time, with bigger ones laying more. Knowing how they reproduce and live is key to keeping them healthy. Bringing yellow belly turtles to places they don't belong has caused problems. In some European countries, they're among the top 100 invasive species. It's important to know how to care for them to keep their populations healthy. https://youtube.com/watch?v=C5cl2z-Ett4 AttributeDetailsScientific NameTrachemys scripta scriptaSize Range (Males)5–9 inches (13–20 cm)Size Range (Females)8–13 inches (20–33 cm)Lifespan in CaptivityUp to 40 yearsActive PeriodDiurnalEgg Clutch Size6–10 eggs Essential Habitat Requirements for Your Yellow Belly Turtle Creating a great home is key for your yellow belly turtle's health. It's important to know what they need for their habitat. They need enough space, the right tank size, and a spot to bask in the sun. Tank Size and Setup The yellow belly turtle habitat should have a tank of at least 75 gallons. This size tank lets them swim and explore, keeping them healthy. It's important to have 16-18 inches of water in the tank for their natural behavior. Other important things to think about are: Using a filtration system that can handle the tank's water volume. Changing the water about 30% every 1-2 weeks to keep it clean. Adding decorations like driftwood, rocks, and plants to make it feel like home. Creating a Basking Area A good yellow belly turtle basking area is crucial for their health. This spot should be above the water, with proper lighting for them to dry off. The platform should have a gentle slope or ramp for easy access. Important things for the basking area are: Keeping the basking area warm, between 90-95°F. Using UVB lighting to help them make vitamin D3. Adding safe decorations for fun and security. By following these important tips, you can make sure your yellow belly turtles are happy and healthy. A well-made yellow belly turtle habitat helps them grow and live a long life. Temperature and Lighting Needs for a Healthy Environment Creating a good home for your yellow belly turtle means paying attention to temperature and lighting. Keeping the right temperature is key for a happy and healthy turtle. It's also important to have the right UVB lighting for their health. Maintaining Water Temperature For young yellow belly sliders, the water should be between 78-82°F. Older turtles need a temperature of 70-88°F. Keeping the water temperature steady is important to avoid stress and help them grow well. Using heaters made for aquariums can help control the temperature. Checking and adjusting the temperature often ensures your turtle lives in the best conditions. Choosing the Right UVB Lighting Yellow belly turtles need the right UVB lighting to stay healthy.

They need UVA and UVB rays for about 12 hours a day, all year. You can use a mercury vapor bulb for both heat and UVB light, or a separate basking bulb (60W or 100W) with a UV tube of 12% intensity. Remember to change UV lights every six months to keep them working well. This helps your turtle stay healthy. Feeding Your Yellow Belly Turtle: Diet and Nutrition Feeding your yellow belly turtle the right foods is key to their health. These turtles eat both animals and plants. A balanced diet helps them grow strong and stay healthy in captivity. Understanding Their Omnivorous Diet As they grow, yellow belly turtles change what they eat. Young ones eat a lot of protein. Adults eat more plants. For young turtles under 3 inches, feed them every day with foods like worms and shrimp. For turtles over 3 inches, feed them every other day. They should eat a lot of plants. Recommended Food Options Offer your turtle different foods for a good diet. Here are some good choices: Commercial Pellets: Try Omega One Juvenile Turtle Pellets, Tetra ReptoMin, and Zoo Med Natural Aquatic Turtle Food. Animal Protein: Give them worms, freeze-dried shrimp, and insects. Big turtles can have fish sometimes, frozen or freshly killed. Vegetables: Add dandelion greens, kale, collard greens, and squash for nutrition. Calcium Supplement: Give them cuttlebone a few times a week to help their shells grow. Watch how much you feed them. Take away any food they don't eat to keep the water clean. The right mix of protein and veggies is important. Adjust how much you give based on their age and size. Water Care and Maintenance for Your Turtle's Habitat Keeping the water clean is key for your turtle's health. Yellow belly turtles need special care to stay healthy. Following the right steps for water care makes a big difference. Proper Water Filtration A good filter is a must for clean water. Choose a filter that can handle your tank's size, ideally two to three times the volume. Canister filters work well because they remove waste and keep the water clear. If you don't have a filter, change the water weekly to keep it clean. This helps remove harmful stuff that builds up. Routine Water Changes Changing the water regularly is important. Check the water often for things like pH, nitrate levels, and hardness. This keeps the water safe for your turtle. Clean the tank every three months, but more often if the water gets dirty fast. Always use conditioner on tap water before putting it in the tank. Yellow Belly Turtle Behavior and Socialization For those who want to keep yellow belly turtles as pets, it's key to understand their behavior. These turtles are most active during the day. They love to bask in the sun and search for food, which is vital for their health. By watching their daily habits, owners can make a better home for them. They can also meet their needs and catch health problems early. Understanding Their Diurnal Habits Yellow belly turtles have a unique social life. Their size and where they live affect how they interact with each other. Bigger turtles often lead the way when it comes to eating and set the rules in their group. Smaller turtles stick together for safety and comfort, trying to stay away from the big, aggressive ones. They can get a bit aggressive when eating, showing why socializing them right is important. Handling and Interaction Tips Handling yellow belly turtles the right way is key to their happiness. It's best to keep handling them to a minimum to avoid stress. Introduce them to gentle handling slowly. Remember, they are usually calm but might bite if scared or threatened. Knowing how they act and handling them safely helps owners and turtles live together peacefully. Health and Common Issues in Yellow Belly Turtles Keeping a yellow belly turtle healthy means paying attention to their health needs and knowing about common issues.

By spotting signs of a healthy turtle, owners can catch problems early. This helps them take the right steps to fix them. Signs of a Healthy Turtle A healthy yellow belly turtle shows several key signs: Clear eyes: Eyes should be bright and free from any discharge. Firm shell: A smooth, firm shell shows good nutrition and care. Normal swimming behavior: Active swimming shows they are doing well. Healthy appetite: Regular feeding shows a strong metabolism. Common Health Problems and Solutions Yellow belly turtles can face various health issues, even with good care. Knowing these common problems helps in preventing and treating them: Health IssueSymptomsTreatmentVitamin A DeficiencyNasal discharge, swelling around eyes, lethargyVitamin A supplementation, consult vetRespiratory InfectionsGasping for air, lethargy, swollen eyesInjectable antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarianShell RotPitting or discoloration on the shellCleaning shell and medicating; identify causeGastrointestinal ParasitesLack of appetite, weight lossDeworming medications based on stool analysisShell FracturesVisible cracks or sudden traumaVeterinary assessment and potential treatment It's important to keep the tank right, with the right size and clean water, for the turtle's health. Regular vet visits can help avoid common problems. If a turtle gets sick, seeing a reptile expert right away is key. Breeding Yellow Belly Turtles: What You Need to Know Breeding yellow belly turtles needs careful planning and attention. It's key to have a healthy male and female pair. Start by giving them enough space in their home, making it like their natural habitat. A big nesting box lets females dig and lay eggs easily. The ground should be damp but firm, helping with egg-laying. Creating Optimal Breeding Conditions To help yellow belly turtles breed well, focus on the water's depth and temperature. Make sure the pond is at least 3 feet deep if the turtles will be outside in winter. This keeps them safe from freezing. Use a water volume that matches the guideline of 40 liters per inch of shell for the first turtle and 20 liters for each more. Keeping the water warm, between 78°F and 79°F, makes a good breeding place. Egg Incubation Tips For incubating yellow belly turtle eggs, keep them in a warm, humid spot, around 84°F. Use a damp substrate to help with incubation, which lasts about 60 days. Keeping the right conditions is key for successful hatchlings. With the right care, breeders can create a healthy space. This helps both adult turtles and baby turtles grow well. Finding the Right Yellow Belly Turtle for Your Home Choosing the right yellow belly turtle means knowing the difference between captive-bred and wild-caught ones. Captive-bred turtles are healthier and easier to adapt to home life. They are not stressed by the wild, so they're less likely to have diseases. Choosing Between Captive-Bred and Wild-Cught When looking to buy a yellow belly turtle, think about captive-bred ones. These turtles grow up in safe places, making them better pets. Wild turtles might not adjust well to being pets, leading to stress and health problems. Where to Buy Your Turtle Finding a good place to buy a captive bred yellow belly turtle is key. Look for pet stores or breeders that offer health documents and advice. Prices for these turtles vary a lot: TypePrice RangeNotesHatchlings$10 - $20Smaller size, require more careAdults$60 - $100More stable in captivity, larger size Talking to community forums or local aquatic clubs can help you find a good turtle seller. Making sure the turtle fits your lifestyle will make it a great pet. Conclusion Caring for your yellow belly turtle means setting up a good home, feeding them right, understanding their behavior, and keeping an eye on their health. It's important to create a fun environment with clean water, places to bask, and the right temperatures. Since they can live over 25 years, it shows how big the commitment to their care is.

Feeding your turtle a balanced diet is key to their health. You should give them a mix of protein-rich foods and plants. This helps them stay healthy at all life stages. Also, knowing how they behave during nesting and hibernation helps you understand their natural ways and needs. Yellow belly turtle care is more than just looking after them; it's about building trust and understanding. By being informed and attentive, owners can have many happy years with their turtles. They'll know they're giving the best care possible. FAQ What is the lifespan of a yellow belly turtle in captivity? Yellow belly turtles can live for 20 to 40 years with proper care in captivity. How large should my yellow belly turtle's tank be? Your turtle needs a tank of at least 75 gallons. This size ensures enough room for swimming and a place to bask. What type of diet should I provide for my yellow belly turtle? Feed your turtle a mix of animal proteins and plants. Include turtle food, fish, and chopped veggies in their diet. How often should I clean the tank of my yellow belly turtle? Clean the tank fully every three months. Clean it sooner if the water quality gets bad. What are the signs of a healthy yellow belly turtle? A healthy turtle has clear eyes, a smooth shell, and swims normally. How can I provide a basking area for my yellow belly turtle? Place the basking area above the waterline. Keep it warm, between 90-95°F, for your turtle to dry off and get sunlight. Are yellow belly turtles social animals? They are active in the day but prefer minimal handling to stay stress-free. They can recognize their owners over time. What should I do if my turtle shows signs of illness? Watch out for respiratory infections and shell rot. See an exotic vet who knows reptiles if your turtle is sick. How do I breed yellow belly turtles successfully? Keep a healthy male and female turtle together. Use nesting boxes with the right soil for eggs. Where should I buy a yellow belly turtle? Buy from trusted breeders or pet stores that offer health records. Choose turtles bred in captivity for better health and adjustment.

[terradesignca]

The use of moss walls in Toronto for transforming spaces

Moss walls are now considered a trend in interior design especially in urban cities such as Toronto. These installations are a great addition to interior design as they offer not only an aesthetic value but also serve a practical purpose. Hence, through the use of moss walls in homes and offices, the inhabitants of Toronto can have a natural feel of a green environment without having to worry about the maintenance of plants. This infographic provides information on the benefits of moss walls, where they can be used and why they are gaining popularity in Toronto.

What Are Moss Walls?

Moss walls are vertical gardens that are constructed using preserved moss, which does not need soil, water or sunlight to sustain the green colour. These walls are made of different types of moss including the reindeer moss, sheet moss and pillow moss all of which have different surface textures and colours.

Advantages of Moss Walls

a.) Aesthetic Appeal: Moss walls are an addition to interiors that make it look more natural and add an organic accent to the room.

b.) Air Quality Improvement: Moss walls play an important role in cleaning the air as they are capable of absorbing pollutants and emitting oxygen, thus improving the quality of indoor air.

c.) Acoustic Benefits: Moss is soft and dense, which means that it can effectively minimize noise levels by absorbing sounds, which can be particularly useful in offices or homes located in noisy neighbourhoods.

d.) Low Maintenance: It is important to note that preserved moss does not require water or sunlight, which means that moss walls require very little maintenance in comparison to other live plant systems.

e.) Sustainability: Moss walls are also sustainable because the material used is a preserved natural wall that can last for a long time.

Some of the most used applications in Toronto are as follows:

a.) Residential Spaces: People in Toronto are now adopting moss walls in their living rooms, kitchens, and even washrooms to bring some green elements and to give a relaxing atmosphere.

b.) Corporate Offices: Moss walls have become popular in reception areas, meeting rooms, and working spaces as they provide aesthetic value and have positive effects on stress levels and employees’ health.

c.) Retail Stores: Moss walls are being used by retailers to provide customers with a warm and exclusive environment that sets them apart from other stores.

d.) Hospitality Industry: Moss walls are being used by hotels and restaurants to enhance the experience and appeal of customers.

Customization Options

Moss walls are versatile and can be adapted to the size and style of the room as well as the preference of the homeowner. They are available in different forms, models and designs to meet the needs of the people who use them. Additional choices include the type of moss, its colour, and the addition of other natural components such as driftwood or stones.

Installation and Maintenance

a.) Installation: It is advisable to hire the services of a professional to install the moss wall to avoid cases where it is mounted wrongly or not well fixed. The moss is usually fixed on a backing board that installers will employ in the process.

b.) Maintenance: Despite this, like most interior features, moss walls require minimal upkeep and can be dusted and should be checked to ensure that the indoor humidity is not too high so as to damage the moss.

Conclusion

Moss walls are a combination of nature and aesthetics, and therefore, they are ideal to be incorporated in any interior design in Toronto. These include aesthetic value, ventilation, air purification, sound abode, and low maintenance among others. With the increasing popularity of biophilic design, moss walls are now standard in both homes and businesses throughout the city. Bring this new design trend into your home and make your living environment greener and more beautiful with the help of moss walls.

For more details, visit https://terra-design.ca/moss-art-walls/.

[lakkadshala]

Top 7 Tips & Tricks for a Stylish Look with Wooden Decor, Advantages and Types of Wood

wooden decor has an unmatched appeal, which adds warmth and character. Whether your style is modern rustic or cozy cabin, adding wooden pieces to your design can instantly improve the atmosphere in your house. We'll go over seven ideas in this blog post for using wooden decor to give your living area a fashionable and welcoming appearance.

Combine Various Textures

Mixing various textures is one of the secrets to designing a visually appealing and dynamic setting. To give your interiors more depth and dimension, think about combining different finishes and textures with your wooden furniture. For instance, combine rough-hewn details like driftwood wall art or salvaged wood shelving with polished, smooth hardwood furniture.

Harmony with Other Materials

Although wooden home decor might be the main attraction in your design, it's important to balance it with other materials to keep your room from being overly flat. Use components such as fabrics, glass, or metal decor to create contrast and visual interest. For a modern touch, consider pairing a sleek hardwood dining table with metal chairs, or soften the effect with neutral-toned upholstered seats.

Play Around With Proportion And Scale

To make sure your wooden decor items match the size of your room and other furnishings, pay attention to their scale and proportion. A massive driftwood mirror or a chunky wooden coffee table are two examples of oversized wooden statement pieces that may anchor and create a focal point in a space. On the other hand, subtle details like decorative bowls or wooden candle holders provide flair to a room without taking over.

Include Natural Components

Along with your wooden design, include additional natural components to embrace the beauty of nature. To create a peaceful and harmonious space, bring the outside in with potted plants, fresh flowers, or botanical prints. Adding natural light to your room with translucent curtains or wooden blinds may help make it feel more cozy and natural.

wooden furniture online India  and other eye catching wooden natural home decor items from Lakkadshala.

DIY Projects And Upcycling

To add a distinctive touch to your house and customize your wooden furniture, be creative with upcycling and DIY projects. Think of turning old wooden pallets into wall shelves, building a planter pot out of salvaged wood planks, or staining furniture that isn't completed to complement your current interior design scheme. These projects not only fit any budget, but they also let you show off your artistic and technical abilities.

Layer with accessories and textiles

Layer drapes and accessories over your wooden furniture to soften the way it looks. To create warmth and comfort in your room, use accent sofa cushions, cozy blankets, and soft carpets in similar hues and patterns. To add personality and reflect your own taste, place decorative items such as wooden floor lamps, framed artwork, woven baskets, or ceramic vases on display.

Love Minimalism

Make your decor minimalistic for a sleek, modern effect. Choose a small number of statement pieces that have a big effect to emphasize quality over quantity. To create a sense of peace and refinement, keep surfaces clear of dirt and use basic shapes and clean lines.

Types of Wood used in Wooden decor

The features of wood species must be considered when selecting decor for a wood-framed home, not just for visual appeal but also for other factors like resistance to heat.

Oak

The oak tree is suitable for many types of interior wooden decor. Every object made from this wood is an original work of art with a distinctive texture pattern. It is notable for its tenacity, ability to withstand extreme temperatures, and resistance to rotting. It is utilized for wooden wall lamps, wall panels, flooring, furniture, and decor, among other things.

Ash

This kind of wood is more affordable and has numerous features like oak, although it is lighter in color and lacks strong vascular rays. The wood becomes grayish in color as a result of discoloration. In modern decor, it looks great.

Walnut

This fine kind of wood has a unique appearance in addition to being quite durable. The color spectrum of walnuts ranges from pale brown to rich chocolate. walnut is frequently seen in furniture, joinery, and interior wall panels. It is frequently utilized in both classical and modern designs, such as rococo and baroque, as well as minimalist and hi-tech styles.

Pine

Pine is a common wood kind used to create wooden decor and other interior components. It is less expensive than other kinds of wood, well-processed, has lovely exterior features, and has a vibrant yellow hue. Moreover, the aromatic resins give it a pleasing scent that is healthy for human lungs. Wooden table is perfect for home decor and it is essential for every home to explore the wide range of wooden tables and choose your perfect cheap wooden table for your home.

Advantages of Wooden Decor

Reliability

wooden goods are extremely durable. Because of the processing, wood cannot break like those that are made of glass or plastic and is not at risk from moisture or insects.

Durability

The age of wooden furniture, decor, and accessories just adds to their charm. They can last for many years. Reliable wood species are used to create high-quality decorative pieces that are handed down from generation to generation. The primary benefit is that it can be restored easily.

Superior quality

While wooden decor is more expensive than plastic decor, the quality is far superior. In addition to its long service life, the material shows durability and sturdiness throughout use. It is also entirely non-toxic and does not release any dangerous elements.

Modern style

Every year, wooden decorations gain popularity, and 2024 will be no exception. You may change the interior and give it a distinctive feel by purchasing decor for a space, such as a living room or bedroom. Wood will also look well in the classic or provence designs of your home. In modern home decor lights play a very important role so dive deep into the collection of Buy Pendant Lights Online shop now! 

Conclusion

Wooden decor is a classic and adaptable technique to improve the aesthetics of your house. The options are infinite when it comes to adding wooden decor or making a statement with a reclaimed wood feature wall. Wood is an eco-friendly, long-lasting, and attractive material that works well in any kind of build.